Interview With Kim Kuzma and Her Journey Through Her Own Words Gary R. Beck - Beck's Best
December 19, 2015

My interviews are with local artists who will be in Puerto Vallarta for an extended time. Get acquainted with this lady who has brought us so very much joy for ten years.

Kim Kuzma is possibly the most recognized name in cabaret in Puerto Vallarta, most likely tied with Mikki Prost. When she was seven to eight years old she was in the school choir, building up to soloist and from that moment on she realized that was what she wished to do the rest of her life. She grew up in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and slowly progressed to school plays, musicals and even opera. She expanded to a four octave range and sang lead in a rock band. Observing her first two decades, she was possessed with singing in the field of entertainment and built on her desires while pleasing the audiences.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, she took singing lessons and traveling in a van, striving to get her name out there. Kim found offering her services at charity benefits worked well for furthering her career. This was a huge struggle which many artists undertake to become known.

In 2001, she placed her eyes on the United States, aware that becoming known there would open many doors, again with difficult work which she knew was the labor of an upcoming artist's life. The manager of k.d.lang advised her to involve herself in the gay community and she sang with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, renown by this time. She has performed in the legendary Castro Theater in San Francisco, California. This guidance succeeded, but she again faced difficulty spreading her name since social media was barely anything and there was no Facebook. There were some groups as Yahoo. She has also traveled across Australia for one year, spreading her warm spirits to new people.

So, her name recognition process involved more walking and handing out flyers, many times on Playa Los Muertos, Puerto Vallarta. Slowly but surely her reputation spread due to the intensity of her shows, her beautiful voice and movements. We remember her days in front of small yet enthusiastic crowds at the former Bite Me [later Lido] Beach Club.

She rehearsed twice a week, ever-trying new material and perfecting the songs for a future show. Seamless "mashup" was her creative outlet. When she posted that she had hooked up with Carlos Santana for recording a CD [Acustico], her 'likes' blasted from 250 to 17,000. She laughs and says that this is not the ultra-famous worldwide band leader, but a man who operates a recording studio locally. Both her Acustico and Acustico II were recorded there with her fantastic rhythmic band with the latter CD recently released to critical raves.

Her places of singing and performing are Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco during high season, then Palm Springs and Ogunquit, Maine for the summer. Kim states "I am eternally grateful for the support of the people of Puerto Vallarta, the tourists and the friends who supported us and am equally grateful to the musicians whom I consider my family for the level of talent they bring to the stage each and every time."

Kim has quite a few video clips on You Tube.

Often after The Palm Cabaret ends its season, she spends another month serving food at The Ocean Grill, south of town at Playa Colomitos. She chose the island erected by owner Alfonso Estrada as the photo shoot for the cover of her latest fantastic CD, Acustico II.

For more information, visit Kim Kuzma.

Kim is currently appearing at The Palm Cabaret in Puerto Vallarta with Acustico every Sunday and Wednesday, 7:00 pm, through the season until April 3, 2016.

Tickets may be purchased at the Palm Cabaret Box Office, Olas Altas 508 in Old Town Vallarta (opens daily at 10:00 am), telephone is (322) 222-0200, or you may purchase tickets online at Vallarta Tickets.